ATHLETIC BRA
A bra having a front portion, a back portion, a torso band and a pair of shoulder straps. Areas of the front portion are selectively provided with an inner ply, an outer ply, and an intermediate fabric ply. The intermediate fabric ply is formed of a relatively supportive material and is configured to be positioned along the top and lateral sides of a wearer's breasts.
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This disclosure is related to foundation garments, particularly brassieres. More particularly, this disclosure provides for a bra, primarily an athletic bra, having improved comfort and/or support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBrassieres, particularly athletic or sports brassieres are available in a variety of constructions. Generally, these sports bras are designed to provide increased levels of support to a woman's breasts, often by compression, in order to reduce movement of the breasts during exercise. In some cases, women have been known to require the simultaneous use of more than one bra in order to provide their desired level of support and control. Even for women with smaller breasts, shifting of the wearer's torso, especially during athletic endeavors, can create circumstances where the wearer's bra becomes uncomfortable. Common complaints include chaffing of brassiere material against the wearer's skin, undesired movement of a torso band up or down, as well as failure to manage perspiration.
There remains a need for a bra, particularly, an athletic bra, that provides improvements over the prior art in one or more of the problem areas discussed above.
SUMMARYIn at least a first embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a bra having a front portion configured to cover the breasts of a wearer; a back portion connected to the front portion to surround the torso of the wearer; and a torso band attached along a bottom edge of the front portion and the back portion. In at least this first embodiment, the bra includes a ply of supportive fabric disposed between inner and outer plies forming the front portion of the bra. The supportive fabric ply includes at least one first portion positioned at the top of the front portion and a pair of second portions positioned to correspond with the lateral sides of the wearer's breasts.
In at least a second embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a bra having a front portion configured to cover the breasts of a wearer; a back portion connected to the front portion to surround the torso of the wearer; and a torso band attached along a bottom edge of the front portion and the back portion. In at least this second embodiment, the back portion of the bra includes a torso encircling portion and a connector portion. The torso encircling portion has a bottom edge attached to the torso band and a top edge spaced from the torso band. The torso encircling portion is disposed along the torso band to join with each lateral side of the front portion. The connector portion projects upwardly from the torso band and is sewn at the torso and the upper edge of the torso encircling portion.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
Explanatory embodiments of this disclosure are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. The embodiments described provide examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments, and modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such other embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments may be applied to apparatus, product or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa.
As used here, the terms “inner” and “inside” are used to describe items or features intended to be relatively near the body or skin of the wearer. By contrast, the terms “outer” or “outside” are used to describe items or features intended to be located away from the body or the skin of the wearer relative to other elements. Further, terms such as “upper,” “upward,” “top,” “above” and the like are used to describe items or features intended to be located in the relative direction of the wearer's head or shoulders. By contrast, terms such as “lower,” “downward,” “bottom,” “below” and the like are used to describe items or features intended to be located relatively toward the waist or hips of the wearer when in use.
With reference to the drawings, in particular
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As may be appreciated, the intermediate fabric ply 125 includes a greater percentage of nylon than the inner fabric ply 120 and the outer fabric ply 115. The mesh structure, coupled with the increased percentage of nylon, can provide the intermediate fabric ply 125 with a higher modulus of elasticity i.e., a greater resistance to stretching, than that of the inner fabric ply 120 and outer fabric ply 115. In other words, the intermediate fabric ply 125 should have a lesser degree of stretch. The higher modulus of elasticity of the intermediate fabric ply 125 increases the ability of the intermediate fabric ply 125 to provide support to the breasts of the wearer of bra 1. Each mesh structure results in a relative coarse fabric and is disposed between the inner and outer fabric plies to reduce contact with the skin of the wearer, thereby avoiding chaffing.
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The front portion 100 further comprises shoulder portions 170. The shoulder portions 170 can include the outer fabric ply 115 and the inner fabric ply 120 extending from the bust region 110. Preferably a single piece of fabric will form the outer fabric ply 115 for the bust region 110 and both shoulder portions 170; however multiple pieces could be sewn or otherwise bonded together. In one embodiment, the shoulder portions 170 include a gel layer 175 disposed between the outer fabric ply 115 and the inner fabric ply 120. The gel layer 175 acts as a cushion at or near the uppermost shoulder portion of the bra 1 when worn.
The front portion 100 may further comprise a pair of lateral regions 180 respectively disposed laterally outward of the bust region 110, and optionally, the brace region 150. The lateral regions 180 act as the transition between the front portion 100 and the back portion 200. In some embodiments, the fabric forming the lateral regions 180 may be laminated in order to increase stability. One possible laminate is Delnet® Film available from DelStar Technologies, Inc. of Middletown, Del. as product number #PQ218NAT.
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The connector portion 240 is configured to have a narrow width adapted for a comfortable placement between the shoulder blades of the wearer and further reducing the likelihood of chaffing. The connector portion 240 may also include a two-ply construction, each ply comprising the mesh fabric used in the intermediate fabric ply 125.
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Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A bra comprising:
- a. a front portion configured to cover the breasts of a wearer;
- b. a back portion connected to the front portion to surround the torso of the wearer;
- c. a torso band attached along a bottom edge of the front portion and the back portion; and
- d. a pair of shoulder straps connected between the front portion and the back portion,
- wherein at least a cover region of the front portion comprises an outer fabric ply, an inner fabric ply and a supportive intermediate fabric ply disposed between the inner fabric ply and outer fabric ply,
- the intermediate fabric ply comprising at least one first portion positioned at the top of the cover region and a pair of second portions positioned to correspond with the lateral sides of the wearer's breasts.
2. The bra of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a strip extending downward from a center thereof to be positioned generally between the wearer's breasts when the bra is worn.
3. The bra of claim 2, wherein the intermediate fabric ply comprises a first fabric having a first degree of stretch and the inner and outer fabric plies comprise at least a second fabric having a second degree of stretch, the first degree of stretch is less than the second.
4. The bra of claim 3, wherein the first fabric comprises a mesh.
5. The bra of claim 4, wherein a brace region of the front portion comprises two plies of the mesh, the brace region positioned at least partially between the cover region and the torso band.
6. The bra of claim 5, wherein the intermediate fabric ply and the brace region of the front portion form a pair of substantially annular shaped support pockets.
7. The bra of claim 1, wherein the front portion includes a pair of shoulder portions extending from the top of the cover region, the shoulder portions are connected to the respective shoulder straps.
8. The bra of claim 7, wherein the shoulder portions include the outer fabric ply, the inner fabric ply and a gel layer disposed between the outer fabric ply and the inner fabric ply.
9. The bra of claim 1, wherein the torso band comprises a brushed fabric.
10. The bra of claim 9, wherein the brushed fabric comprises at least one of polyester and cotton.
11. The bra of claim 9, wherein the torso band has an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface comprising a honeycomb pattern having raised cells.
12. The bra of claim 9, wherein the torso band is treated to enhance wicking.
13. The bra of claim 1, wherein at least the inner fabric ply and the outer fabric ply are treated to provide wicking capability that increases with temperature.
14. The bra of claim 1, the back portion further comprising:
- a. a body portion; and
- b. a connector portion;
- wherein, the body portion comprises a lower edge attached to the torso band and an upper edge spaced from the torso band, the body portion is disposed along the torso band to join with each lateral side of the front portion, and
- the connector portion projecting upward from the torso band and connecting with the shoulder straps, the connector portion attached to the torso band at the lower edge and the upper edge thereof.
15. The bra of claim 14, wherein the connector portion comprises a mesh fabric and the intermediate fabric ply comprises the same mesh fabric.
16. The bra of claim 14, the front portion further comprises a pair of shoulder portions extending from the top of the cover region, the shoulder portions connected to the respective shoulder straps;
- wherein the shoulder straps are adjustable in length.
17. A bra comprising:
- a. a front portion configured to cover the breasts of a wearer;
- b. a back portion connected to the front portion to surround the torso of the wearer; the back portion comprising: i. a body portion; and ii. a connector portion;
- c. a torso band; and
- d. a pair of shoulder straps connected between the front portion and the back portion,
- wherein, the body portion comprises a lower edge attached to the torso band and an upper edge spaced from the torso band, the body portion (210) is disposed along the torso band to join with each lateral side of the front portion, and
- the connector portion projects upward from the torso band and connects with the shoulder straps, the connector portion is attached to the body portion at the lower edge and the upper edge thereof.
18. The bra of claim 17, wherein the front portion comprises:
- at least, a cover region having an outer fabric ply, an inner fabric ply and a supportive intermediate fabric ply disposed between the inner fabric ply and the outer fabric ply, and
- the intermediate fabric ply comprises at least one first portion positioned at the top of the cover region and a pair of second portions positioned to correspond with the lateral sides of the wearer's breasts.
19. The bra of claim 18, wherein the connector portion comprises a mesh fabric and the supportive intermediate fabric ply comprises the same mesh fabric.
20. The bra of claim 19, wherein the mesh fabric constitutes a first fabric having a first degree of stretch, and the inner and outer fabric plies comprise at least a second fabric having a second degree of stretch, the first degree of stretch is less than the second degree of stretch.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 21, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 26, 2015
Patent Grant number: 9480287
Applicant: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC (Winston-Salem, NC)
Inventors: Karen J. Black (Wilton, CT), Jewel L. Brown (Jersey City, NJ)
Application Number: 13/971,931
International Classification: A41C 3/00 (20060101);